Pilot Sightings of Drones Detailed in New FAA Report

The FAA on Aug. 21 released a new list of pilot, air-traffic and citizen reports of possible encounters with unmanned aircraft spanning Nov. 13, 2014, through Aug. 20, 2015. Of the roughly 250 incidents listed since the beginning of July, about 10 involved helicopters, and four were made in California. Many of the aircraft—such as that in the most recent sighting in Burbank, Calif., by a Robinson R44—required no evasive actions and prompted notification to local law enforcement. But a few incidents stood out. In one, dated July 28 in Riverside, Calif., a Robinson R22 transiting approximately 4 miles south of Riverside Municipal Airport reported taking evasive actions to avoid a drone at 1,500 ft. Since the incident occurred over mountainous terrain, law enforcement was never notified. In another incident on July 17 in New York City, aircraft including an EC135 reported seeing a black quadcopter hovering at 3,500 ft in the vicinity of the World Trade Center. Agencies such as the NYPD, FBI and USSS were notified.